Shatner in talks with Cable Radio Network for show.

SUN Valley-based Cable Radio Network is close to signing William Shatner, to deal that would give the former "Star Trek" actor a weekly radio talk show.

Michael Horn, Cable Radio's president and CEO, said Shatner is interested in doing the show where he would focus on his interests though the format is still up in the air.

Horn said he hopes to close the deal in the next few weeks and have Shatner on the air by fall.

"He's very talented and he's very interested in doing a show with us so he'll be a great addition," Horn said.

"But we're still talking to him about the show, so we'll see."

Horn said Shatner's fame from "Star Trek," and his other films, including "Miss Congeniality" and "American Psycho 2" will attract his longtime and most recent fans.

Shatner, who was traveling, was unavailable for comment.

Cable Radio will also broadcast Shatner upcoming charity paintball tournament upstate New York at 4 p.m. on Aug. 12.

Shatner, who is an avid painthall fan, will participate along with other celebrities.

"It's a first for us, but it should be fun." Horn said. He added that Shatner will also be interviewed live and take listener calls on Aug. 26.

If Shatner joins Cable Radio, he'll become the second TV star to host a show on the network.

Earlier this year, Ed McMahon, former host of "Star Search" and ex-cohost of the "Tonight Show," began broadcasting the weekly "Ed McMahon Show."

Meanwhile, Cable Radio has added "The Bill Handel Show" and "John & Ken" to its weekday line up.

The two shows, which air on KFI-AM, will air from 5 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. respectively.

Cable Radio can be heard on Time Warner Cable in the West Valley on Channel 6 using the second audio channel setting and on channels 950 to 955.

It can also be heard in the rest of the Valley on Adelphia Cable or Channel 30's second audio channel. Charter Communications in Glendale and Burbank offer Cable Radio or Channel 17 and Channel 31's second audio channel.

Quintek Settles with SEC

Microfilm equipment-maker Quintek Technologies Inc. has settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission over illegal stock trading charges.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Quintek's troubles stem from press releases issued in January and March of 2002 about the company's efforts to sell its equipment in Central Europe and about the pattern of the sale of its securities during that time.

At issue was Quintek's January 2002 press release outlining a deal with Penny King Holdings Corp. which reportedly agreed to a $15 million revolving credit facility, resulting in an immediate spike in Quintek's stock price from about 8 cents to 20 cents.

The price climbed to 45 cents when Quintek announced a $10 million contract with Eurotrend Informatics Ltd.

But both deals fell through and the SEC soon began a fraud investigation.

The company's stock fell from 43 cents to 18 cents between April 12 and the next trading day, April 15.

Quimek's investment in PanaMed Corp. is also under scrutiny, the company says, though it's unclear what potential violations may be involved.

Quintek owned 2 million shares in the company, which is headed by Quintek's former CEO, Thomas Sims.

During 2002, Quimek reported a $1.1 million loss on revenues of $446,005, compared to a year earlier, when it reported a $1.2 million loss on revenues of $675,145.

NBC Says No to Talent Shows

Despite the initial high ratings of "Fame and the success of Fox's "American Idol," NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker say his network will not renew "Fame," nor any other talent show for the fall season.

"It's very difficult to do that kind of a show that will attract a lot of viewers for us," Zucker told reporters during the Television Critics Association gathering last week.

Both of the network's reality talent show, "Fame," and "The World's Most Talented Kid," opened to much hype and high rating this spring, only to fall flat in succeeding episodes.

Zucker said Fox's success with "American Idol," is a tribute to its producers and the network for its consistently high ratings. The show ranks in the top five for the current season.

Meanwhile the network plans to develop new interstitials, or brief 60-second shorts in between programs sometime next year.

The interstitials will feature an ongoing undisclosed storyline similar to those Taster's Choice Coffee commercials in the late 1980's and early 1990s which outlined a young couple's budding romance.

Zucker would not say who would star in the shorts nor when they would air.

Zucker added that the spots would likely be advertiser sponsored.

Hirsch Gets a Reality Show

Steven Hirsch, president and founder of adult film producer Vivid Entertainment Group will have his own reality television series this fall.

Los Angeles-based World of Wonder Productions, a reality filmmaker, will produce 13 half-hour episodes of the show for an unnamed network.

Jackie Markham, a spokeswoman for Van Nuys-based Vivid, said the network that will run the show has not yet been named because it has yet to announce its upcoming lineup.

The formal announcement will be made once its lineup is publicized.

Fenton Bailey, World of Wonder's cofounder and the show's executive producer, said the new show would follow Hirsch around to staff and production meetings.

It will also include footage from actual film shoots.

Randy Barbato, Bailey's partner and fellow co-founder, said the show aims to display how the adult industry's biggest studio operates.

Production is scheduled to start in the fall, but it was unclear when the show would air.

The show follows a similarly-themed program that airs on Showtime.

The show, "Family Business," follows the activities of pore producer Adam Glasser, president of Chatsworth-based Seymore Inc.

World of Wonder is known for last year's HBO reality special "Monica in Black and White," and "Dark Roots: The Unauthorized Anna Nicole Smith Story."

Business Journal Reporter Carlos Martinez may be reached by calling [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail].